Methods and Apparatus for Managing and Exchanging Information Using Information Objects

ABSTRACT

A computer-implemented method of interacting with at least one data item includes configuring each of the data items into a distinct information object by extracting, from each data item, extracted data including a heading, a source, graphical and textual material, and a hyperlink. The method additionally uses the extracted data to make available for display a representation of each of the information objects in a uniform format, wherein the format includes a card, and, within the card, an icon area for graphical and textual material, the heading, the source, a set of indicators, and a mechanism giving graphical access to a set of functions.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/664,178, filed Mar. 20, 2015, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/925,031, filed Jun. 24, 2013, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/563,416, filed Sep.21, 2009 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,499,248, issued Jul. 30, 2013), entitled“METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING AND EXCHANGING INFORMATION USINGINFORMATION OBJECTS,” which (i) claims the benefit of U.S. provisionalapplication Ser. No. 61/116,747, filed Nov. 21, 2008, entitled“Information Objects (IOs) and Information Views (IVs)”, and (ii) is acontinuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/118,301,filed Apr. 29, 2005 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,640,511, issued Dec. 29, 2009),entitled “METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING AND INFERRING RELATIONSHIPSFROM INFORMATION,” which claims the benefit of U.S. provisionalapplication having Ser. No. 60/566,723, filed Apr. 29, 2004, entitled“METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING AND INFERRING RELATIONSHIPS FROMINFORMATION”. All of these related applications are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

This invention was made with Government support under Grant and/orContract No. ‘N00014-02-1-0132 and/or N00014-04-1-0569 and/orN00014-08-C-0206’ awarded by the Office of Naval Research. TheGovernment has certain rights in the invention.

BACKGROUND

Modern information processing systems allow users to collect and processlarge amounts of information. As an example, a typical computer systemsuch as a personal computer includes an operating system that executeswithin the computer system to provide a graphical user interface tousers of that computer system. A conventional graphical user interfacetypically includes a number of information objects such as graphicalicons that represent information of relevance or importance to the user.The user accesses data and controls functionality of the computer systemby selecting and operating such icons. By way of example, softwareapplications such as word processors, graphical editing tools, webbrowsers and many others often provide graphical user interfaces thatinclude a number of icons that have visual meaning to the user of thecomputer system. Typically, a software application renders icons toallow the user to invoke specific functionality or commands of thatapplication and/or to allow the user to organize and access data. Manysoftware applications use icons to represent data or files that the usercan access by selecting (e.g., clicking) the icon representing the data.As an example, if a user selects an icon that represents a softwareapplication installed within the computer, the computer will beginexecution of that application. Other icons on a graphical user interfacecan represent folders or files maintained by the operating system withina file system.

Many conventional software applications allow a user to develop orcollect various portions of information or content for storage andfuture access. As an example, a word processor or other editing toolallows the user to create and edit documents. As another example, a webbrowser allows a user to navigate web pages provided by servers onremote computer networks such as the Internet to reference informationon a variety of subjects. A conventional computer system allows a userto store information referenced or created by such applications as a setof documents or files that can be retrieved by the user at a later time.

Most conventional operating systems and many software applications alsoprovide a way for a user to arrange a file system of the computer inorder to organize documents and files in a manner that makes sense tothe user. Computer operating systems typically organize file systems ina hierarchical manner allowing the user to create folders or directorieswith user-specified names. The user can store files within the foldersin a manner that makes sense to that user. A file system is thus one ofthe most popular ways for users to organize and manage data andinformation of interest to those users.

Another mechanism that conventional applications and operating systemsprovide to allow users to organize and manage information of interest tothat user is the ability to allow a user to spatially arrangeinformation objects such as graphical icons in a way that makesintuitive sense to the user. As an example, on a conventional “desktop”work area provided by many operating systems, a user can place orposition icons representing files, documents, applications, emailmessages, appointments or the like in any manner and at any positionthat the user may choose. In particular, such conventional applicationsallow the user to graphically maneuver the icons into position inrelation to one another in a manner that makes sense to that user.Different users often organize icons on their desktop in different ways.

Information availability and accessibility is continuously increasing.The problem is that information commonly exists in different formats,resides in different locations, is dynamically changing, and is used andmodified by different people. This makes it difficult for users toeffectively monitor, analyze and exchange information.

SUMMARY

Conventional mechanisms and techniques that allow a user to visuallyorganize, collect and manage information objects that represent variousportions of information suffer from a variety of deficiencies. Inparticular, conventional computer-based applications such as operatingsystem desktops and software application graphical user interfaces allowa user to collect and store numerous portions of content and informationthat are of interest to the user and allow a user to represent thatinformation graphically (e.g. via icons), but do little to analyzerelations that may exist between the icons and/or between the storedportions of content or data.

In particular, conventional information processing systems such as thosenoted above allow a user to organize and arrange various portions ofdata or other information as icons in a graphical user interface in amanner that makes sense to the user, but such systems do not promoteconversations and collaboration among users.

Another deficiency with conventional information processing systems isthat information is represented in different formats and, depending onthe format, is stored in different locations. For example, conventionalbrowsers store hyperlinks to web sites as bookmarks, whereas emails arelocated in mailboxes in mail handlers, files are stored in computerdirectories, and notes may be stored in files, and so forth. Theproposed information object mechanism disclosed herein, referred to insome embodiments as IOs, solve this deficiency by introducing astandardized information format that represents a piece of informationin an abstract way and links to an original piece of information andthat has a standardized look thus allowing users to focus on and comparethe information content and context rather that be distracted by theinformation format and location.

As an example of problems with conventional data processing systems, auser using a conventional content development application may spendlarge amounts of time collecting portions of content such as graphics,text, news stories, web pages, email messages, or other such informationsources for collaborative production of a large content-based researchproject. Many users may be involved in this process. As each usercollects portions of information using conventional informationmanagement systems, the users store and organize their respectiveportions of information within the computer file system. Each user maycreate icons on his or her desktop or other work areas that representthe respective portions of collected information. Each user might groupicons for related pieces of information together in a list, within closeproximity to each other, or in file directories. In conventional systemshowever, it is up to the user to identify what other portions ofinformation might be of interest to the user that the user has notalready identified and collected.

As an example, if the collaborative production being developed by theusers is a project related to current events, each user may collectarticles and stories related to that current event. Using conventionalsystems, it is up to each user to research and discover stories or othercontent related to that current event that might be available from avariety of different information sources. While conventionalcollaboration systems might provide a common repository for suchcollected information contributed by each user, there is little or noordering to this information, other than an order specified by the userswho place the content into the shared repository such as a file systemor database. Each user must frequently communicate with other users in ahighly manual manner (e.g. via a telephone call, email or othermechanism) to identify content that other users may have discovered andcollected that might be of relevance to the production underdevelopment.

Such conventional information management systems do not automaticallyand dynamically analyze relations between user placed icons thatrepresent the various pieces of available information in order to assistusers in identifying other portions of content that many of interest tothose users. More specifically, conventional systems do not analyzespecific spatial relations, collaborative context relations,chronological context relations, and the like between informationsources associated with icons arranged by a user to determine otherportions of information, such as other portions of content collected byother users, that may be of relevance or interest to the user providinga specific spatial arrangement of his or her icons. As a result,conventional information management systems limit a user's knowledge ofother available content and information to which that user may haveinterest. In particular, such systems limit available content to thatcontent that a user can discover on their own.

As an example, using a conventional information discovery processes suchas web searching, a user can quickly become overwhelmed with searchresults that are irrelevant to the information they are seeking. Whilesome conventional web sites may attempt to suggest references to webpages that are similar in nature to those discovered when providing aparticular search term, such additional references are simply providedbased on frequently performed searches of other users and do not takeinto account current information already collected by the userperforming the original search. Thus a conventional browser is not madeaware that a user already has collected certain related pieces ofinformation and has organized them in a spatially related manner.

In contrast, embodiments of the invention are based in part on theobservations that conventional information collection management systemsprovide a significant cognitive burden on users caused by the increasingavailability of information, the requirement for users to activelyinitiate a search for relevant information, the requirement forevaluation of the quality and feasibility of information, the need tocollaborate remotely and asynchronously, as well as the necessity todynamically adapt to changing circumstances. Modern informationprocessing systems do not provide an automated ability to organize andidentify information sources that come in many different formats. Forexample, information may be received in the form of a phone call, anemail, an instant message, a computer file, a web site, a database item,a verbal comment, a radio transmission, a newspaper, a television spot,a magazine, or a security camera. The various formats often prevent theeasy and efficient collection, organization, and comparison ofinformation by conventional information processing systems.

Embodiments of the invention incorporate advanced graphical userinterfaces and functions to address the shortcomings in conventionalsystems. These embodiments include Information Objects (IOs) andInformation Views (IVs). IOs that are data files that can include otherdata files (such as documents, hyperlinks, and executables) as well asmeta-data (such as ratings, discussion logs, and visualizationparameters). IVs are computer windows for the visualization of IOs. IOsare rendered differently on different IVs allowing users to manageinformation in a customized format and in environments suited toparticular tasks and circumstances. In certain embodiments the IOconsolidates data, meta-data and communication features. For example,the IO can be an agenda item, a discussion, a hosted conversation, atopic, etc. Accordingly, the user can efficiently view and organizemultiple IOs that represent different topics and that engage differentgroups of participants.

Advantageously IOs provide a means for users to package and visualize(static and dynamic) information in a standardized format. IOs can beviewed and modified differently on different IVs. IOs can be copiedbetween the IVs of the same or different users. Copies of IOs remainsynchronized if displayed on different IVs. IOs are associated withfunctions that enhance the collaborative use of information, forexample, an object-based communication system that allows users tocommunicate through IOs and IVs.

Other benefits of Information Objects and Views include the ability to:consolidate task relevant information (e.g. from shared IVs to a privateIVs);

display information in a custom and familiar format (e.g., in a widevariety of possible custom IVs);

maintain a standardized data format for different data visualization andmanagement tools; and

easily move data between different data visualization and managementtools; and

easily exchange information among remotely distributed participants in ahosted conversation.

Using techniques disclosed herein, it is possible to create IOs transferIOs between the same or different types of IVs, add additional IVs andadditional functions for IOs, as well as a selection of IO components,IO functions on IVs. An electronic wall (EWall) embodiment provides oneexample for the visualization of IOs on an information view (IV) inwhich an IO can present itself as a EWall IO on a EWall Workspace View.A graphical user interface is provided for the management of multipleIVs, as well as new functions for the exchange of IOs and thecollaborative use of IVs.

Embodiments of the invention as disclosed herein provide mechanisms andtechniques for providing the TO, sharing the IO among a plurality ofparticipants, attaching multi-media data to the IO. The techniquefurther includes displaying the IO in one of a plurality of views and inresponse to interaction with one of the plurality of views by one of theparticipants, communicating with at least one different one of theparticipants sharing the IO.

The system disclosed herein provides a computational environment for thesupport of individual and collaborative decision-making and greatlyenhances the quality and the speed of individual and collaborativebrainstorming, problem-solving, information collecting anddecision-making processes. More specifically, the system for providinghosted conversation among a group of participants disclosed hereinincludes a processor, a memory unit that stores instructions associatedwith an application executed by the processor, and an interconnectcoupling the processor and the memory unit, enabling the computer systemto execute the application and perform operations of: storing a link toat least one information object, the at least one information object,the information object includes at least one link to a document, aplurality of links to the group of participants, meta-data related tothe conversation, and a communication system linking the at least oneinformation object to the group of participants. The system furtherprovides a user interface on the client system comprising: an iconrepresenting the at least one information object, a contact list, a listof participants linked to the at least one information object and aninformation view to visualize the at least on information object.

In one configuration, the IOs are sometimes represented as “cards” on agraphical user interface. IOs reference different types of informationformats thus making it easier for users to directly compare and studyinformation in different formats. As used herein the term “card,” “IO”and “information object” are used interchangeably, and a card is oneexample configuration or representation of an information object. AN IOincludes a graphic icon area to display text or a picture associatedwith an information source, as well as other information pertaining tosuch things as ownership of that IO, creation time of the IO, andattribute indicators that indicate a current state of the IO, and ahyperlink to its associated information source.

In a simplest embodiment, an IO is just an icon that represents someinformation and information represented by IOs may be stored indifferent locations and in different formats. In one configuration, anIO is different from an ordinary icon because it comes with hiddenfunctionality such as a built-in instant messaging system and theability to drag and drop content onto the IO. It is noted that the:instant messaging system includes communication media such as InstantMessaging System, email and SMS messaging, text messaging and otherforms of real-time communication between participants.

In one configuration, the system applies a spatial relation algorithmthat discovers spatial relations between positional information of atleast two IO records in an IO database that are associated with IOsdisplayed on the graphical user interface in the first set of IOs. Therelations between IOs can be stored in a database and the system can usediscovered relations to identify a second set of information objectsbased on the relation(s) between the first set of informationobjects/IOs. The second set of information objects in an IOconfiguration is a second set of IOs that might be of interest to theuser based on the analysis of the IOs already on display in a WorkspaceView associated with that user. The system can output an identity of thesecond set of information objects by displaying the second set of IOs onthe graphical user interface for viewing by the user. The second set maybe displayed in a prioritized and relevant manner based on relationsdiscovered concerning the first set of IOs.

In this manner, the system can use IOs to show the user other sources ofinformation, possibly from other users, or from a database, or from adynamic source such as a news feed, that might be of interest to thatuser. News feeds include but are not limited to news, alerts,announcements, motion detection events triggering security cameras,emails, instant messages (IMs), short message services (SMSs), sensors,real time search results, and custom content. The system can thus assista user in managing information and retrieving relevant information.

Embodiments of the invention include any type of computerized device,workstation, handheld or laptop computer, or the like configured withsoftware and/or circuitry (e.g., a processor) to process any or all ofthe method operations disclosed herein. In other words, a computerizeddevice or a processor that is programmed or configured to operate asexplained herein is considered an embodiment of the invention.

Other embodiments of the invention that are disclosed herein includesoftware programs to perform the steps and operations summarized aboveand disclosed in detail below. One such embodiment comprises a computerprogram product that has a computer-readable medium including computerprogram logic encoded thereon that, when performed in a computerizeddevice having a coupling of a memory and a processor and a display,programs the processor to perform the operations disclosed herein. Sucharrangements are typically provided as software, code and/or other data(e.g., data structures) arranged or encoded on a computer readablemedium such as an optical medium (e.g., CD-ROM), floppy or hard disk orother a medium such as firmware or microcode in one or more ROM or RAMor PROM chips or as an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC).The software or firmware or other such configurations can be installedonto a computerized device to cause the computerized device to performthe techniques explained herein. Other configurations include variousgraphical representations of the IOs themselves, for example asdisplayed on a graphical user interface as will be explained in moredetail.

It is to be understood that the system of the invention can be embodiedstrictly as a software program, as software and hardware, or as hardwarealone such as within a processor, or within an operating system orwithin a software application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following more particulardescription of embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and figures in which like reference charactersrefer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings arenot necessarily to scale, with emphasis instead being placed uponillustrating the embodiments, principles and concepts of the invention.

FIG. 1 is an example network environment including computer systemsconfigured with a relation manager in accordance with one exampleembodiment disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 shows an example layout of an IO in accordance with one exampleembodiment disclosed herein.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of information flow and IOs present themselvesdifferently on different IVs and can be copied between IVs in accordancewith one example embodiment disclosed herein.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams of News Views that display news formultiple different news papers postings by different users.

FIG. 5A is a diagram of IOs being exchanged between IVs of differentusers.

FIG. 5B is a diagram of IOs being exchanged between Private, Visible andShared Views.

FIG. 6A is a diagram of an exemplary graphical user interface (GUI)Organization in accordance with one example embodiment disclosed herein.

FIG. 6B is a more detailed diagram of the exemplary GUI Organization ofFIG. 6A.

FIG. 6C is a diagram of an alternate exemplary GUI Organization inaccordance with one example embodiment disclosed herein.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a graphical user interface (GUI) which allows theusers to select import/export IOs from/to IM systems, other users views,shared views, e-mail tools, databases, agent systems in accordance withone example embodiment disclosed herein.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of IO File Management An IO can “display” differenttypes of files such as pictures, text, movies, flash applications(left), attach/hyperlink different types of files (middle), anddynamically update IO contents (right). in accordance with one exampleembodiment disclosed herein.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of IO components in accordance with one exampleembodiment disclosed herein.

FIG. IO is a diagram of IO Operations in accordance with one exampleembodiment disclosed herein.

FIGS. 11-13 are flow charts of processing steps performed to the inaccordance with embodiments disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates the computer-networking environment 100 suitable foruse in explaining example embodiments of invention. Thecomputer-networking environment 100 includes a network 101 such as alocal area network (e.g., LAN) that interconnects a plurality ofcomputer systems 110-1 through 110-N that each execute respectiverelation managers 150 (application 150-1 and process 150-2), viewmanager managers 178 (application 178-1 and process 178-2), connectionsmanagers 180 (application 180-1 and process 180-2) and IO file managers182 (application 182-1 and process 182-2) under respective control of aplurality of users 108. The computer systems 110 may be any type ofcomputerized device such as a personal computer, laptop, workstation,mainframe terminal, or the like. In this example, each computer system110 generally includes in interconnection mechanism 111 such as a databus, motherboard or other circuitry that interconnects a memory 112, aprocessor 113, an input output interface 114 and a communicationsinterface 115. A display 130 such as a computer monitor and input outputmechanism 116 couple to the computer system 110 via the input outputinterface 114. The communications interface 115 allows communicationwith other computer systems 110-2 through 110-N over the network 101.The architecture of the computer system 110-1 is shown in FIG. 1 by wayof example only. It is to be understood that the details of the examplecomputer systems 110-2 through 110-N can be similar to those of computersystem 110-1 but are not shown in FIG. 1 due to drawing spacelimitations.

The memory 112 within each computer system 110 may be any type ofcomputer readable medium such as random access memory (RAM), read onlymemory (ROM). The memory 112 may be fixed or removable from the computersystem 110, such as a floppy disk, magnetic disk, optical disk media(e.g., CD ROM) or the like.

In one embodiment, the memory 112 is encoded with computer program logic(e.g., software code) that includes a relation manager application120-1. When the processor 113 executes the relation manager application150-1, the processor 113 produces a relation manager process 150-2 thatexecutes as explained herein to produce a graphical user interface 132-1(the example being produced by the relation manager 150 in computer110-1) on the display 130 for viewing by the user 108. The relationmanager process 150-1 and application 150-2 are collectively referred toherein as simply the relation manager 150. When referring to therelation manager 150, it can thus be a reference to the executingprocess 150-2, the application code 150-1, or both. Each relationmanager 150 in combination with the view manager 178, connectionsmanager 180 and file manager 182 process files and documents and producea graphical user interface 132 that provides, to the user 108, visualknowledge representation, dynamically updated content, hostedconversations, and interpretation and management based in part onspatial relationships. To do so, the managers 150, 178, 180 and 182include a workspace server 151, a news server 152, an exchange server153 and a database server 154 that each produce, respectively, aWorkspace View 300, a News View 305, a database view 310 and an exchangeview 315 within the graphical user interface 132. The relation manager150 adds discovered relations to IO's in a database 125 (the database125 may already include relations that other people or software productsadded). The relation manager also provides the algorithms 155 to examinethe network of relations to discover potentially relevant information.

The database 125 maintains a history of updates to the IOs to allow forinclusive reconstruction of a particular TO at given time.

The workspace server 151 produces the Workspace View 300 that in oneconfiguration is a graphical user work area, such as a desktop, in whicha user 108 is able to create and manipulate graphical informationobjects 310 that graphically represent information objects of interestto user 108. The Workspace View 300 helps users 108 to create, collect,organize and understand information associated with each IO 320 and therelationships among information represented by the IO 320. In oneconfiguration, a generic client application such as a web browseraccesses such views from respective servers 151 through 154 that mayexecute on the same or different computer systems 110. In anotheralternative configuration, a dedicated client application includes orprovides the Workspace View, the News View, the database view, and theexchange view and implements the news server, the database server, andthe exchange server. It is to be understood that the system describedherein may be distributed or centralized and may operate among manycomputer systems with many users 108.

Information Objects (IOs) are flexible data structures and can includedata files that can include other data files as well as meta-data (forthe display of IO contents and the use of IO functions on differentIVs), present themselves differently depending on the IV they aredisplayed on, include the same data and functionality on any IV they aredisplayed on. IOs can be copied or transferred between the same ordifferent types of IVs, copied or transferred between the IVs of thesame or different users, remain synchronized if copied to multiple IVs,synchronized with dynamic data sources other than source-IOs, moved froman IV to the computer desktop, file system, or 3rd party applications,thus converting an IO into a regular computer file that can be exchangedthrough conventional means such as email or file sharing and can bemoved from the computer desktop, file system or 3rd party applicationsto any IV.

Information Views (IVs) can include graphical user interfaces thatrender IOs in different ways (can be described as a optical lenses thatallows users to view information in different ways) and can enableaccess to all IO parameters and functions.

Using system 110 a user can interact with an information object, thesystem 110 facilitates sharing the IO among a plurality of participants;provides controls for attaching multi-media data to the IO, displays theIO in one of a plurality of views; and in response to interaction withone of the plurality of views by one of the participants, provide acommunications path between at least two of the participants sharing theIO.

Directing attention briefly to FIG. 2, an example layout of aninformation object (IO) 310 is shown. An IO 320 in this example providesa visually compact, standardized, and abstract representation ofinformation that displays, reminds of, and/or links to the originalpiece of information associated with that IO 320. Generally, an IO 320is any graphical representation of an information object and may beconsidered the information object itself. The term “IO” as used hereincan thus include anything from a simple icon that represents somethingsuch as a web page, a document, or a live information source, or an IOcan be a more complex representation of such things. Both, the layoutand the functionality of IOs 320 are highly modular in oneconfiguration. This means that visual components and computationalfeatures can be individually turned on and off, and that additionalvisual components and computational features can easily be integrated.Furthermore, the colors and fonts of all IO components are customizable.In one embodiment, IOs 320 are visually subdivided into six segments inone configuration that can expand and contract depending on theircontents.

The icon area 321 allows for the placement of graphical and/or textualmaterial that can help users 108 to quickly visually locate IOs amongmany other IOs as well as to memorize and recall the data, informationor knowledge associated with that IO 320. Users 108 can copy and pastepictures and text from various computer applications into the icon area.Users can also drag and drop pictures and text from web browsers andfile managers into the icon area 321. Furthermore, users can directlydraw and write into the icon area 321. The background color of the iconarea 321 is also customizable allowing users to visually group andhighlight IOs.

Typically, the icon area 321 includes an IO graphic such as an icon,picture or other graphical information that represents informationassociated with that IO. As an example, if an HTML document such as aweb page is of interest to a user, that user can create an IO torepresent that web page. The IO can include a picture from the web pageor a reduced sized version of the web page as its graphic.

The IOs 320 include an information bar 322 that accommodates aninterface and visual indicators for complementary IO functions. A smallrectangular box that includes an icon or in some cases a numericalcounter represents each available IO function. Three distinct colorsvisually indicate the status of each function. In one configuration, thecolor gray is used for inactive functions, the color green is used foractive functions and the color red is used for functions that requireuser attention. Every function can be individually turned on and off.The information bar 322 also allows for the customization and additionof functions specific to particular situations and work tasks. Thefollowing is a list of example functions and is not intended to limitthe invention to information objects (e.g., IOs 320) including suchfunctions. A reference function allows users to hyperlink or to attachrelated information. A location function is used to associate IOs 320with a geographic location. The location Algorithm indicates geographiclocations for which cards (IOs) are available. In other words, if a card(TO) is associated with a geographic location then the LocationAlgorithm will represent this card with an icon on a map. Multiple cardsin similar geographic locations do not produce multiple icons but asingle icon of enlarged size. A typical application is a newspaper thatmarks on a world map all locations for which news is available. Acontrol function enables automatic IO updates. A comment function allowsfor the addition of comments and annotations. A vote function allowscollaborating users to exchange their opinions about the relevance ofIOs. Every user is given one supporting vote for each card (TO). Theicon color indicates the addition of recent and the presence of pastvotes. The numerical counter next to the icon displays the total numberof supporting votes. An access log function provides users with adetailed record about the IO history. The Log Function provides userswith a detailed record indicating the dates, times and names of allusers that previously viewed, copied or modified the card (TO). The iconcolor indicates recent and past log entries. The counter next to theicon displays the number of log entries. This functionality allows usersto review the evolution, collaborative use, and authorship history ofcards (IOs). A personal note function is used to announce and send IOs320 to specific users. A priority function allows users to categorizeand highlight IOs.

The date/time bar 324 displays the date and time of the most recent IOmodification. The relation manager 150 can use the date/time barindication to reconstruct the chronology of contributions from differentusers and sources. The author bar 325 displays the name of the user wholast modified the IO 320 or the information source the IO 320 has beencopied from. The author bar 325 provides an indication of the IO editorand is used to compare contributions from different users and sources.The heading bar 326 allows users 108 to complement IOs 320 with a briefdescription or some keywords such as a title. The heading bar 326effectively complements the icon area 321 by introducing language as anadditional means for the abstract representation of data, informationand knowledge. While the icon area 321 is particularly useful for thevisual navigation of large IO arrangements, the heading bar 326 isfocused on supporting the quick and easy recollection of IO meanings andcontents.

The creation and use of IOs 320 can fundamentally shift the way analystsand decision-makers comprehend and think about information duringsense-making activities. The creation of IOs 320 engages users 108 intoa process of converting, standardizing, abstracting, and associatinginformation while the use of IOs 320 fosters a strong focus on relatinginformation uninfluenced by the format and location of information.Humans like to think of data, information and knowledge as objects thatthey collect, compare, and organize. The conversion of data andinformation (as well as the externalization of knowledge) into virtualand physical objects accommodates this way of thinking. Dealing withvirtual and physical objects such as files on a computer desktop ordocuments on a table effectively increases a human's ability to dealwith complex sense-making tasks. A standardized IO size and layout isconvenient to collect, compare, and organize IOs 320. Configurationsdisclosed herein are based in part on the observation that the benefitsof standardized information objects are present in various everydayobjects. For example, index cards, credit cards, business cards, slides,photographs and postcards are usually of equal size and layout so theycan conveniently be stored, accessed, and processed. The abstractrepresentation of data, information and knowledge with IOs 320 engages ahuman's visual recognition in ways that decreases information accesstime and allows for the processing of large amounts of information.Furthermore, the process of creating IOs 320 requires users tocircumscribe the contents associated with IOs 320 in a visually andmentally fast accessible and easily comprehensible format thusencouraging a more careful analysis and understanding of the contentsassociated with IOs. The concept and use of abstract visual and textualreminders is also present in various everyday objects. For example,desktop icons and thumbnail views allow users to easily locate andorganize computer files. Military ribbons use abstract visualrepresentations to provide service, mission and award specificinformation on a small clothing area. Traffic signs depend on abstractvisual representations that are easy to spot and understand bypedestrians and car drivers.

In one configuration, an IO 320 does not include information per se butonly serves as a reminder for the presence of a particular piece ofdata, information or knowledge. The separation between IOs 320 andcontent associated with IOs 320 allows for the compact visualization andorganization of large amounts of information. AN IO 320 may be viewed asa meaningfully labeled hyperlink to a piece of content available in aremote location. Users 108 can easily arrange and rearrange IOs 320 inthe workspace 300. Users 108 benefit from this process by developing agood understanding of the IO contents and the relations among IOs 320(e.g., context). The use of IO arrangements also benefits collaborativesense-making tasks. People of different backgrounds, interests and focihave their unique ways of relating information. The collaborativedevelopment of IO arrangements can help people to determine intersectingviews as well as to develop a shared understanding of a particularinformation space. Information objects are thus each represented asrespective IOs 320 in this configuration.

The IO attribute indicators shown in FIG. 2 can indicate an IO statethat can include such things as ownership of the TO, a geographiclocation associated with the TO, a time of creation of informationassociated with the TO, and other information. Depending upon theconfiguration, each IO 320 can further include features such as aninstant messaging capability allowing to users in a distributed systemto share access to an IO in order to exchange comments or messagesbetween themselves concerning information associated with the IO. In oneconfiguration, the system displays, within the IO perimeter, at leastone messaging icon operable by a user to send a message to an IOassociated with at least one other user, thus enabling collaboration. Inone configuration, clicking on the messaging icon allows users to add atime/author stamped message to an IO 320 that all users 108-2 through108-N can see if they have a copy of this IO 320. For any user 108, theicon lights red if the IO 320 includes new messages that the user hasnot yet looked at, green if it includes messages that the userpreviously looked at, and gray if the IO includes no messages. Thecounter next to the icon displays the number of comments. It is to beunderstood a that reference to an IO 320 refers to an implementation ofan information object, and as will be explained shortly, algorithmsdisclosed herein can analyze information about IOs, such as spatialrelationships between IOs, and that such algorithms and processing canbe applied to other representations of information objects besides IOs,such as desktop icons, physical locations of physical items such asitems on a store shelf, and so forth.

Returning attention back to the graphical user interface 132 in FIG. 1,the Workspace View 300 presents users with an empty canvas for thecreation and grouping of IOs 320. In one configuration, the WorkspaceView 300 can be the desktop of a computer system 110 provided by anoperating system, such as the Windows Desktop provided by the Windowsfamily of operating systems made by Microsoft Corporation of RedmondWash., USA (Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation).The Workspace View 300 is designed to support individual andcollaborative sense-making tasks such as information analysis, planning,decision-making, brainstorming, and problem-solving. The Workspace View300 functionality will provide users 108 with the means to efficientlycreate, collect, organize, analyze, and discuss information. In oneconfiguration, IOs 320 may be created manually or semi-automatically.The manual creation of IOs 320 requires the user 108 to position anempty IO 320 on the Workspace View 300 and complement it with a picture,a heading, and a reference to an information source by simply draggingand dropping pictures, texts, hyperlinks, files, or file folders ontoIOs 320. The semi-automatic creation of IOs 320 allows users to drag anddrop pictures, text, hyperlinks, URLs, files, and file folders directlyonto the Workspace View 300. This action will cause the workspace server151 to create a new IO 320 with the content of the dropped item linkedor attached to the IO 320 and with a picture and a heading added to anicon area and the heading bar (to be explained) of the IO 320. Users 108may also copy IOs 320 from the News View 305, the database view 310 orthe exchange view 315. Furthermore, a user 108 can copy IOs 320 from theWorkspace View 300 to the computer desktop or file system (and viceversa) thus converting IOs 320 into regular computer files. Thisfunctionality has a variety of applications such as to exchange IOs 320by email or to convert IOs 320 for use with other software applications.Automated IO creation is provided as well that allows a user for exampleto specify a file system or path or URL or database identity and thesystem can traverse records, documents, web pages, files and the likewithin the specified path, database or domain and can convert eachrecord, file or page into an IO for use in the system.

In one embodiment the relation manager 150 allows a user to easilyarrange, compare, and evaluate IOs 320 thus ensuring that users 108 willnot be distracted by different information formats but focus oninformation contents. Each individual user 108 can determine theparticular arrangement or spatial (vertical, horizontal, overlapping,proximal) layout of the graphical IOs 108 on his or her Workspace Viewthat might indicate meaning to that user 108. For example, a user 108may group IOs that represent related information sources in a relativelyclose proximity to one another thus defining tight spatial relationshipsbetween those IOs.

The system is able to analyze spatial relationships that exist betweenIOs 320 in each users Workspace View 300 in order to identify otherinformation objects (e.g., other IOs 320) that may be of interest tothat user 108. Based on this analysis, the relation manager 150 canidentify other information sources by showing other IOs 320 that mightbe of interest to that user. Embodiments disclosed herein are based inpart on the observation that the spatial arrangement of a first set ofobjects such as IOs 320 in the Workspace View 300 can be used toidentify relationships between those objects and can be further used toidentify other objects (such as other IOs) that may be of importance toa user who created the initial spatial relation between the first set ofobjects in the Workspace View 300.

The Workspace View 300 introduces several options for the grouping ofIOs 320. One option is to increase the size of one IO 320 so as toaccommodate several other IOs 320 inside its boundaries. Moving an IO320 will drag along all IOs 320 within its boundaries. A second optionis to overlap IOs 320. Moving an IO 320 inside a cluster of overlappingIOs 320 will drag along the entire cluster of IOs 320. A third option isto use multiple workspaces for the grouping of IOs 320. A fourth optionis to link IOs 320 to an entire IO arrangement. A mouse-click onto suchan IO 320 will then open another Workspace View 300 and display the IOarrangement. Further details on contents and layout of IOs 320 will beexplained shortly.

The news server 152 produces (i.e. provides information feeds for) theNews View 305 to allow users 108 to collect IOs 320 for addition to theWorkspace View 300. IOs 320 in the News View 305 represent informationfrom a variety of other information sources. Feed examples includesnews, alerts, announcements, motion detections on security cameras,emails, IMs, SMSs, sensors, real time search results, and customcontent. An analogy of the News View 305 is a “news stand” in whichrecent or periodic information is available. In one configuration, theNews View 305 displays the contents IOs 320 from news servers 151 thatmay be distributed through the network 101 within one of more computersystems 110. IOs 320 in the News View 305 can be organized by time andinformation sources (e.g., by topic or content area) as well as bygeographic locations associated with the information represented by eachIO 320. Users 108 are able to copy IOs 320 between the Workspace View300 and the News Views 305. IOs 320 copied from the News View 305 to theWorkspace View 300 may be static and not change in content, or such IOs320 may dynamically adapt to modifications in content so that as theinformation source associated with an IO 320 produces new information.

In one configuration, the system can display IOs in various arrangementswithin the News View 305. In particular, the News View 305 can display atimeline arrangement of IOs 320. The timeline arrangement provides avisualization that represents and organizes knowledge using a gridcomprising of a timeline categorization for IOs on the horizontal axisand subject categorization on the vertical axis. In an alternativeconfiguration, the new server 152 can display a map arrangement thatprovides a visualization that represents and organizes knowledge using aworld-map or a floor plan comprising of geographical categorization forIOs. As an example, a News View can organize and arrange IOs in anordered list or as a table with rows and columns of IOs organizedhorizontally by time and vertically by information sources. In such aconfiguration, new IOs for newly discovered information can be insertedon the left pushing existing IOs to the right. The time scale can beirregular and optimized to display the largest number of IOs possible.The rows of IOs in the News View can automatically expand and contractdepending on the number of IOs to be shown in each row.

In this manner, the system disclosed herein provides a novel process forinformation retrieval and processing based on information collectionsupport. In one example, the News View 305 displays incoming informationin IOs 320 from selected information sources. The users 108 can copyrelevant information from the News View 305 to the Workspace View 300 orcan create new information directly in the Workspace View 300 bycreating new IOs. The user(s) 108 can study, organize, and categorizethe information on the Workspace View 300. In one configuration, if theWorkspace View is connected to a server then all content and establishedrelations are made accessible to this server. The user can use twoWorkspace Views if he wishes to separate between information that ispublic and private. Other users 108 view the information on the news,database or exchange views 395, 310 and 315 and can also copy relevantinformation from the news, database, and exchange views 305, 310, and315 to their personal Workspace Views 300. The system can track andanalyze this movement of information from source to destination and canuse this IO usage and movement data based on user identifiers, locationsof IOs, arrangements of IOs, contents of IOs, times of movement andcopying, and other such information in processing algorithms to infer oridentify relationships between IOs and to suggest other IOs thatreference other information that may be of interest to a user.

The News View 305 provides users 108 with the technology to effectivelymonitor and visualize additions and modifications from informationsources such as web sites, databases, security cameras, alarm systems,sensors, news feeds and so forth. Every information item is displayed asan IO 320. In one configuration, the News View 305 can organize andarrange IOs 320 in an ordered list or as a table with rows and columnsof IOs 320 organized horizontally by time and vertically by informationsources, such as by geographic origination or relation of the new storyassociated with the IO 320. In another configuration, the News View hasseveral visualization options such as displaying the IO arrangement in atable or displaying the IO arrangement on a geographic map. In oneconfiguration, new IOs 320 for newly discovered information can beinserted on the left in an appropriate row pushing existing IOs 320 tothe right. The time scale can be irregular and optimized to display thelargest number of IOs 320 possible. The rows of IOs 320 in the News View305 can automatically expand and contract depending on the number of IOs320 to be shown. The News View 305 can include an adaptor for receivingnews feeds and the user interface chronologically organizes informationchronologically in a subject-time matrix. The News View 305 row cancombine multiple data streams so that a row includes a group of datastreams. A News View row can also display other data formats as well(email, search results, sensor data gathered though a file transferprotocol (FTP) in addition to displaying RSS streams.

The News View 305 offers a variety of tools for the exploration andcollaborative use of information. As an example, a user 108 can copy IOs320 from the News View 305 to the Workspace View 300 thus allowing usersto easily collect, compare and organize new information. IOs 320 copiedfrom the News View 305 to the Workspace View 300 may be static ordynamic as noted above. A static IO 320 is an exact copy of the IO onthe News View 305. In one configuration, a dynamic IO 320 continuouslyupdates itself to reflect the most recent (left-most) IO on the NewsView row it was copied from. FIG. 9 below shows another example layoutand additional IO features.

In this manner, the system disclosed herein provides a novel process forexchanging information and for asynchronous, decentralized, remote, andcross-organizational collaboration. In particular, users 108 use theirindividual Workspace Views 300 to organize and analyze information. Theexchange server 153 produces the exchange view 315 to display cards(IOs) 320 that are concurrently displayed in one or more workspace views300 of at least one other user 108. The exchange view 315 displays (inprioritized order in one configuration) the IOs 320 created by allcollaborating users 108 (or those with the appropriate accesspermissions or security levels). The exchange server 153 manages thedisplay and exchange of card (TO) information between exchange views 315and can include filter features to allow a user 108 to only see cards(IOs) from selected users 108 (as opposed to all cards (IOs) in allworkspaces 300 of all users 108). The users 108 can copy relevant IOs320 from their exchange views 315 to their Workspace Views 300. Users108 can take “ownership” over IOs 320 copied from their exchange views315 and these IOs 320 are now modifiable by the user 108. In oneconfiguration, when a user takes ownership of an IO 320, the IO 320 isno longer synchronized with a counterpart IO on the IO author'sWorkspace View. In another configuration, once an IO 320 is ownedexclusively by a user 108, these IOs 320 can no longer be used forcollaboration such as by “instant messaging,” IO commenting, or “TOvoting.”

FIG. 3 show a diagram 360 of an IO 320 as viewed in several IVs. Thediagram 360 also shows how IOs present themselves differently ondifferent IVs and can be copied between IVs. The following are examplesof the various IVs (not intended to be limiting). The News View 362displays the contents of RSS streams (and other dynamic informationsources) as IOs arranged in a table, organized by time in horizontal andby information sources, subject or category in vertical direction. NewIOs are inserted on the left pushing existing IOs to the right. The timescale is irregular and optimized to display the largest number of IOspossible (meaning time segments without IOs are automatically removed).The rows automatically expand and contract depending on the number ofnews items (makes all rows display similar numbers of IOs). Users canadd RSS files by simply dropping an IO or an RSS URL onto a row in NewsView. A News View row can include multiple RSS streams (multiple streamsare automatically combined). The News View can be used to display a widevariety of information such as newspaper news, emails instant messages,motion activity on web cameras, eBay and Craigslist postings, companyinternal announcements and alerts. The News View can also be used as aRSS feed generator. For example, a user could create an empty News Viewthat all users can view and add IOs to. Users can copy News View rows orindividual IOs to other IVs. A copy of a News View row onto a WorkspaceView would result in a single IO that dynamically updates itself andthat displays the most recent item in the associated RSS feeds. Theprimary purpose of the News View is to help users monitor large numbersof RSS feeds in a quick and easy comprehensible format.

The Workspace View 364 displays IOs in a game IO like format. The visualcomponents of the IOs are customizable and expandable. Users can modifyIO parameters in a so-called IO editor (see Illustration 3 and 4). Forexample, users can add files to IOs, view and modify ratings, or discussthe IO contents with other users through the built-in instant messagingsystem or shared white board. If a user moves a regular file or a URLfrom a computer file system or a web browser onto the Workspace Viewthen an IO is automatically created with the file attached or the URLhyperlinked. The Workspace View is designed to allow users to easilycollect, organize and compare information in different formats andlocations. For example, a Workspace View may be used for web shoppingallowing users to quickly drag and drop items of interest from differentweb sites (such as Amazon, eBay, and Craigslist) onto the Workspace Viewfor the subsequent comparison of options and prices. Since IO componentscan be dynamic (meaning that they can automatically retrieve contentupdates from dynamic information sources) the user can also use acollection of IOs to monitor changes to prices and bids.

The Map View 366 is a geographic map display that represents IOs aslocation items. A location item presents itself as (one or more) symbols(of choice) on the map. The location item allows access to all IOfunctionality available in other IVs. If the geographic locationassociated with a location item is dynamic then the symbol wouldautomatically update its location on the map. If a location item iscopied to a Workspace View then it will present itself as an IO with thegeographic location accessible and modifiable through the IO Editor. TheMap View is primarily designed for military use but has a wide range ofcommercial applications as well. For example, a user could create apublic Map View with hiking paths. Other users could copy hiking pathsof interest from this public Map View to their personal Map View s orother IVs, discuss hiking paths through the IO instant messagingfeature, or rate the quality of hiking paths through the IO ratingsystem.

The Project View 368 is a time planning and calendar display (similar toMS Project) that allows users to represent IOs as time bars. IOs in thisIV also maintain all the contents and functionalities of IOs displayedon other IVs. Moving an IO from the Project View to the Workspace Viewwould create an IO that displays the time frame with a time bar on theIO or a time frame in the calendar tool of the IO Editor. The ProjectView is primarily designed for people that need to compare and modifytime related IO parameters. For example, the Project View may be used toreview and modify IOs that represent tasks scheduled for executionduring particular time frames, resources that are only available duringparticular time frames or people that are only available duringparticular time frames.

The Graph View 370 displays IOs as line or bar graphs. This particularIV is primarily designed for comparing statistical data associated withIOs such as stock quotes, bids and sensor data.

The List View 372 is a spread sheet like display (similar to theMicrosoft (ID Office Excel spreadsheet program) that allows users torepresent IO parameters in a table format. The List View is primarilydesigned for people that need to compare and modify particular IOparameters such as, for example, the cost of sales items or thespecifications of resources referenced by individual IOs.

Now referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, screen shots show News Views thatdisplay news for multiple different news papers (FIG. 4A) and postingsby different users (FIG. 4B).

FIG. 5A shows a diagram of IOs being exchanged between IVs of differentusers. FIG. 5B shows a diagram of IOs being exchanged between Private,Visible and Shared Views. There are various ways in which IOs can beexchanged between the IVs of the same and of different users such as:

by copying IOs from the personal IV of another user (Users can maketheir personal IVs accessible to other users. An IV can be Shared 510(read/write), Visible 512 (read) or Private 514;

by sending IOs to a particular user or group of users through theintegrated instant messaging system or a commercial instant messagingsystem;

by sending IOs to a particular user or group of users through email;

by making IOs available through shared file systems; and

by retrieving IOs from our database (The database automatically collectsand organizes IOs from the IVs of different users.

A variety of data visualization and access tools allow for the easyretrieval of IOs from the database, for example, in conjunction with anEWall Agent System; and by retrieving IOs from a Discovery View. TheDiscovery View presents individual users with a custom selection ofpotentially relevant IOs, and in one embodiment consolidates theExchange View (315) and Database View (310). In this embodiment, theDiscovery View not only displays related information in the IO database125 but can also display related information found by other web services(e.g., related products for one selected product provided by onlinesellers or search engines). The Database Views (Discovery Views) 310 ofindividual users 108 display (in prioritized order) cards (IOs) 320available in the database (as records 160) that are related or relevantto the cards (IOs) 320 on a user's workspace view 300 based on therelations discovered via application of the relation processingalgorithms 155.

FIG. 6A is a diagram of an exemplary GUI Organization includinggraphical user interface 610 for the management of IVs in accordancewith one example embodiment disclosed herein. FIG. 6B is a more detaileddiagram of the exemplary GUI Organization of FIG. 6A. In one embodiment,the GUI Organization includes three columns. The left column 620includes displays 622 and 624 provided by the View Manager 178 and theCommunication Manager 180, respectively. The View Manager 178 displaysall available IVs, allows users to open individual IVs, and enablesusers to modify the access rights of individual IVs. The View Manager178 also displays representations of servers, databases, agent systems(e.g., EWall Agent System) and users in the collaborative environment.The Connection Manger 180 allows users to communicate with other users,exchange IOs with other users, access the IVs of other users, import IOsfrom databases and agent systems, as well as to control the export ofIOs to databases and agent systems. The middle column 630 is used todisplay one or more IVs 632 a-632 n. The right column 640 includes theIO Editors 642 a-642 n. IO Editors 642 a-642 n are tools that allowusers to view and modify IO parameters and operate IO functions. Theinformation displayed in IO Editors always refers to the currentlyselected IO or group of IOs.

FIG. 6C is a diagram of an alternate exemplary GUI 660 in accordancewith one example embodiment disclosed herein. Graphical user interface660 for displaying an information objects includes a discussion subject602, a message indicator 603, threaded discussion window 607, a list ofparticipants linked to the information object 608, a collaborativerating 605 including a ranking of importance, a buddy list 601, adiscussion heading 604, a list of attachments 606 and meta-data andshared applications 609. In other embodiments the graphical userinterface for displaying information objects includes a geographic map,category keywords and auction information. In other embodiments theattachments include thumbnails of multimedia data.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a GUI 700 showing several features of the system110 available to the user including control 710 which when clicked sendsor receives an IM message about a view. This is a means for enhancing ahosted conversation, for example in a chat room. The GUI 700 furtherincludes control 712 click to send/receive an IM message about an TO,for example in a chat room. The following controls can also be used:control 714 allows a database to collect information from thecorresponding window; control; 716 disallows a database to collectinformation from the corresponding window; control 720 sends an IO to auser or a group of users; control 724 disallows a user to view detailsof the corresponding view; control 726 allows a user to view/modify thecorresponding view; control 728 sends or receives an IM message or IO toor from the user, for example in a chat room; and control 730 sends anIM message or IO to a group of users, for example in a chat room.Indicator 718 indicates available resources in a database (cards,visualizations, statistics, etc.) and indicator 722 indicates a view ofanother user that is open for viewing or modification. GUI 700 allowsthe users to import and export IOs from and to IM systems, other usersviews, shared views, e-mail tools, databases, agent systems.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of IO File Management 800 which allows an IO todisplay the content of different types of files 802 including such ascontent from: a web site 810, flash applications 812, movies 814,pictures, text from office documents 816, PDF documents 818 and otherdocuments 820. In operation, the IO file manager 182 processesattachments, hyperlinked web content from the different file types 802and remote sources 806 including remote RSS files 822, remote objects824 and remote files 826 to create and dynamically update IO contents.

A user 108 can create an IO by simply dragging a hyperlink or file orother digital material onto the Workspace View 300. A new IO is createdwhere the hyperlink or file is dropped, a picture is added automatically(by searching the hyperlink destination or the file contents for anappropriate graphic), the heading is added automatically (typically theweb site or file name), and a link or embedded attachment isautomatically created from the file or the web site reference by thehyperlink

FIG. 9 is a diagram of IO components expanding on the basic IOcomponents described above in FIG. 2. IOs include default and customparameters and functions. IO parameters and functions are best explainedwith IOs rendered on Workspace Views. IOs can display a large number ofIO parameters and function without the need for the user to access theIO Editor. The IO layout can be customized to only display the IOparameters and function the user wants to see. The following listprovides a few examples of IO parameters and functions as they wouldappear in different sections (Bars) of an IO on a Workspace View.

Picture/Text bar 902 allows the insertion and display of text, pictures,PDF files, active Flash applications (can run inside the Picture/TextBar), Office documents, and additional applications, file types andmulti-media data. Function Bar 910 displays icons that serve as statusindicators and that link to particular IO Editors.

A Bubble Icon 912 opens an IO Editor window that allows users toexchange comments, share a white board, contribute to a forum, or insertnotes. The “bubble” icon 912 is rendered white if no user added anyinformation, gray if one or more user added information and red if oneor more users added information that the viewer has not yet looked at.An optional calendar tool allows users to compare their availabilitiesand schedule a “chat” session ahead of time.

A Flag Icon 914 links to a map display in the IO Editor allowing usersto view and modify geographic locations associated with an IO. A PersonIcon 916 indicates whether a particular IO is used by other users andlinks to an IO Editor that allows the IO owner to view the list of IOusers as well as to assign access restrictions to IO contents. A FileIcon 918 allows users to add and access (any number of) attachments andhyperlinks to an IO. An Arrow Icon 920 allows users to add, modify andcontrol dynamic information sources (e.g., to control automatic updatesto IO contents retrieved from dynamic information sources such as Emailaccounts, RSS feeds, sensors, motion detectors and security cameras orweb sites). Users can activate one or moreReliability/Ratings/Votes/Importance/Priority Bars (collectivelyreferred to as bars 924) for the individual and collaborative evaluationof information. IOs can be evaluated on a scale from 1 to 5 (representedby 5 boxes). Filled boxes represent the average evaluations of all IOusers while the arrow symbol indicates the individual rating of the IOviewer.

Trade bar 930 and Value/Value Change bar 928 comprise a trading featurethat allows users to trade IO contents or items referenced by IOs. Forexample, an IO could represent a stock (market item) and allow users tomonitor, buy and sell stocks; an item on eBay or Craigslist and allowusers to monitor and manage bids; or an item on Amazon and display itscurrent purchase price. Users associate IOs with one or more categoriesusing a Category bar 932 that allows for faster IO searches on IVs anddatabases. Users associate IOs with a time or time frame using TimeFrame/Schedule bar 934, for example, displayed on IOs as a point or as abar on a time scale. The time scale is the same for all IOs and can beset in the preference menu, e.g. left side of the bar=−12 hours,middle=now, right=+12 hours. The point or bar on the time scale willmove from left to right in accordance to the real time. Graphic display940 shows various display options for icons on the various functionbars.

In one embodiment the system 110 provides hosted conversation among agroup of participants using the integrated instant messaging systemfacilities which provide a communication system linking an IO to a groupof participants. Each system component (TO, IV, Database, Agent System)and participant is linked to the instant messaging system (also known asa chat room). The IO can include a link to a document, links to thegroup of participants, meta-data related to the conversation andcommunication system which links the IO to the group of participants.The process of initiating a hosted conversation begins when a userstarts a discussion or a collaborative project by first creating a newIO and then adding data, meta-data and linking participants to the IO.

For example, to communicate about the contents of an IO the user wouldclick the bubble icon 912 on this IO in the user interface on the clientsystem to “chat” (about this IO) with other participant who maintains acopy of this IO. Clicking on the “bubble” icon 912 associated with aparticipants (or group of participants) listed in a contact list andlinked by the connection manger 180 would initiate a “chat” session withthose participants. The hosted conversation includes a list ofparticipants linked to the at least one information object and an IV tovisualize the at least on information object. Clicking on the “bubble”icon 912 associated with the IV in the View Manager would initiate a“chat” session (about this IV) with every other participant who hasaccess to this IV. The integrated instant messaging system is also usedto exchange IOs between users. An IO can simply be dragged and droppedonto a user icon which subsequently sends a copy of this IO to theintended recipient. The instant messaging functionality can becomplemented with any other IO parameter and function such as, forexample, a function that allows users to assign ratings to databases,agent systems, users or IVs. One important benefit of this system isthat it allows users to stay engaged in a large number of discussionsabout particular subjects represented by different users, IOs or IVs.Advantageously the user can organize and monitor a large number of IOswhere every IO represents a different issue that may be discussed with adifferent groups of participants.

Thus system 110 provides a graphical interface for displaying aninformation object which includes displaying a threaded discussionwindow, a list of participants linked to the information object, acollaborative rating including a ranking of importance, a buddy list, adiscussion heading; and a list of attachments.

FIG. IO is a diagram of IO operations including IO creation. IOs can becreated manually or automatically. The automatic creation converts anon-IO object or file into an IO if a user imports a non-IO file fromany application into an IV. For example, if a user drags a URL of anitem for sale on the Amazon web site onto the Workspace View, theresulting IO would display an image of the item in the Picture Bar, thename of the item in the Heading Bar, the cost of the item in the ValueBar, and hyperlinks to the Amazon web site where the item is advertised.Filters include the rules and manage the conversion from non-IO files toIOs.

Generally, IOs can be manually created such as by creating a blank IOand then specifying an information source to which that IO refers. TheIO look can be complemented with a picture, explanatory text, a headingand other visual attributes by simply dragging and dropping pictures andtext fragments onto the IO.

Alternatively, in another mode, IOs can be semi-automatically created ina Workspace View or on a desktop by dragging an information object suchas hyperlink, document, file or URL onto the Workspace View in whichcase a new IO is automatically formed and associated with thehyperlinked data, file or document. The IO picture and the IO headingare added automatically if an appropriate picture and heading can beextracted from the dragged information object or if an appropriatepicture can be found in a database that matches the file name or withinsome of the content of the dragged information object. In yet anothermode, an automated IO creation process can traverses a set of records orfiles, such as a database or file system or all web pages within acertain URL and can perform automatic creation of IOs from each databaserecord, web page, or file. As an example, entire databases or filesystems or all documents below or within a certain URL or domain on theInternet can automatically be converted into IOs using thesemi-automatic creation of IOs but in a non-manual way that does notrequire a user dragging and dropping of each file, document or URL ontoa view.

The following Workspace View examples detail several exemplary userinteractions with IOs and IVs. A user can drag a URL from a web browseronto a Workspace View which will create an IO that hyperlinks to thatURL and automatically extracts (from the URL destination) a picture anda heading that is displayed in the IO's picture and heading bar. Theuser can drag an RSS URL onto a Workspace View which will create an IOthat visualizes the most recent item in the RSS file/s and thatcontinuously updates itself. The user can drag a regular document (file)onto a Workspace View which will create an IO with the documentattached. Dragging a document onto an IO also attaches the document. Theuser can import an IO from another user into the Workspace View whichwill create an IO copy that is synchronized with the original IO. Theuser can drag an IO from the Workspace View to the computer desktopwhich will create an IO file. The user can drag an IO from a News Viewrow to the Workspace View which will create an IO copy that issynchronized with the original IO. The user can drag a News View Row tothe Workspace View which will create an IO that visualizes the mostrecent item in the RSS file/s and that continuously updates itself. Inanother embodiment, a user can drag a buddy icon from an instantmessaging system onto the IO or drag an IO the buddy icon to initiate aconversation or to link the “buddy” to the IO. In this manner, links areformed between the information object and one of the plurality ofparticipants by selecting the information object and selecting theparticipant from a displayed list of participants and the system 110associates participants and information objects by indicating aconnection between an icon from an instant messaging system and theinformation object.

The following News View examples detail several exemplary userinteractions with IOs and IVs. The user can drag one or more RSS URLsonto a News View row which will add and displays the content of RSS URLson the News View row as a sequence of IOs. The user can drag and drop aWorkspace View ID onto a News View row which will display IO additionsand modification on that Workspace. The user can drag and drop an IOonto a News View row which will add that IO to the IO sequence. The usercan drag an IO from a News View row to the computer desktop which willcreate an IO. The user can drag a News View row to the computer desktopwhich will create an IO.

FIG. 11 diagrams the overall process of interacting with an informationobject. In step 1110, the system provides the information object (I/O),for example on a GUI display as described above. A new IO can be createdfrom scratch or by using a filter, or an existing IO can be shared,copied, transferred, etc. as described above. Next, in step 1120, the IOis shared among a plurality of participants. In step 1130, multi-mediadata can be optionally attached to the information object. In step 1140,the information object is displayed in one of a plurality of views.Finally in step 1150, in response to interaction with one of theplurality of views by one of the participants, a communications pathbetween at least two of the participants sharing the information objectis provided by the connection manager 180.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart of processing steps showing additional detailsin conjunction with flow char 1100 FIG. 11, that system 110 performs toallow interactions with an information object in accordance withembodiments disclosed herein. In one embodiment, step 1210 provides theinformation object by filtering a web page associated with a URL tocreate the information object by automatically extracting meta-dataincluding at least one of a heading, a picture, and link to the URL. Instep 1220, the information object is shared among a plurality ofparticipants by transferring the information object between differentinformation views. In step 1230, the multi-media data is linked to theinformation object

In step 1240, an automated participant is provided. The automatedparticipant interacts with the information object. In some embodiments,there is no distinction between a user and an automated participant(e.g., a participant based on a computational system). In step 1250,information is retrieved based on user interaction with the informationobject including spatially arranging the information object relative toother information objects. In step 1252, interaction with theinformation object includes attaching at least one document to theinformation object.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart of processing steps that system 110 performs tosupport a hosted conversation among a group of participants includinginteractions with an information object in accordance with embodimentsdisclosed herein. In step 1310, a link to at least one informationobject is stored to host a conversation among a group of participants.The information object includes at least one link to a document; aplurality of links to the group of participants; meta-data related tothe conversation; and a communication system linking the at least oneinformation object to the group of participants provided by connectionmanager 180.

In step 1320, a user interface on the client system is provided. Theuser interface includes an icon representing the at least oneinformation object a contact list; a list of participants linked to theat least one information object; and an information view to visualizethe at least on information object. In step 1330, an Information View isdisplayed that includes a News View having an adaptor for receiving newsfeeds and the user interface chronologically organizes informationchronologically in a subject-time matrix. The user interface furtherincludes a zoomable, graphical timeline including automatic compressionof the subject-time matrix and in one embodiment the news feed is asyndication feed.

While configurations of the system and method have been particularlyshown and described with references to configurations thereof, it willbe understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in formand details may be made therein without departing from the scope of theinvention. As an example, the order of processing steps in the flowcharts is not limited to the order shown herein. Accordingly, thepresent invention is not limited by the example configurations providedabove.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method of interacting withat least one data item, in which at least one computer initiatesexecution of software instructions to perform computer processes, thecomputer processes comprising: configuring each of the data items into adistinct information object by extracting, from each data item,extracted data including a heading, a source, graphical and textualmaterial, and a hyperlink; using the extracted data to make availablefor display, a representation of each of the information objects in auniform format, wherein the format includes a card, and, within thecard, an icon area for graphical and textual material, the heading, thesource, a set of indicators, and a mechanism giving graphical access toa set of functions, including an instant messaging function, by which aplurality of users having access to the card can exchange author- andtime-stamped messages relating to the information object, such messagesbeing associated with the information object and accessible to users whoview the information object; and storing data corresponding to each ofthe cards in a database, configured so that each card in the database,with any associated messages, is accessible and sharable among users. 2.A method according to claim 1, the computer processes furthercomprising: providing a user interface having a graphical button, which,when invoked while content is being displayed, causes the displayedcontent to be handled as one of the data items, namely, by configuringthe displayed content as a new information object and making arepresentation of the new information object available for display inthe uniform format.
 3. A method according to claim 1, wherein one of theindicators displays the total number of messages, associated with theinformation object, that have been associated with the informationobject.
 4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the one of theindicators changes its appearance to indicate the presence of a message,associated with the information object, that has not yet been read bythe user.
 5. A method according to claim 1, wherein (i) one of the setof functions is a vote function by which a user can provide a voteassociated with the information object and (ii) one of the indicatorsdisplays the total number of votes, associated with the informationobject, that have been received.
 6. A method according to claim 1,wherein the format includes a user-accessible report relating to userswho replicated the information object.
 7. A method according to claim 1,wherein the information object is configurable to include auser-accessible file attachment.
 8. A method according to claim 1,wherein the one of the indicators indicates the presence of a geographiclocation, associated with the information object.
 9. A method accordingto claim 1, further comprising: further causing to be displayed, at thesame time as the representation, a map including a location, marked onthe map, associated with at least one of the information objects.
 10. Amethod according to claim 9, further comprising: responsive to agraphical input applied to the displayed location, causing the locationon the map to be edited in accordance with the graphical input.
 11. Amethod according to claim 1, further comprising: serving, to a clientcomputing device of a first user, a first view of a first set ofinformation objects that constitute a first collection of the firstuser; also serving, to the client computing device of the first user, asecond view of a second set of information objects, that constitute asecond collection of the first user; responsive to (i) a graphicalselection, by the first user, of an information object in the first viewand (ii) a copy command that has been graphically entered by the firstuser, causing the selected information object to be copied from thefirst view to the second view.
 12. A method according to claim 1,further comprising: serving, to a client computing device of a firstuser, a first view of a first set of information objects that constitutea first collection of the first user; also serving, to the clientcomputing device of the first user, a second view of a second set ofinformation objects, that constitute a collection of a second user. 13.A method according to claim 12, further comprising: responsive to (i) agraphical selection, by the first user, of an information object in thesecond view and (ii) a copy command that has been graphically entered bythe first user, causing the selected information object to be copiedfrom the second view to the first view, so that the selected informationobject in the collection of the second user has been copied to the firstcollection of the first user.
 14. A method according to claim 12,further comprising: responsive to (i) a graphical selection, by thefirst user, of an information object in the first view and (ii) a sendcommand that has been graphically entered by the first user, causing theselected information object to be sent to the second user, so that theselected information object in the collection of the first user is madeavailable to the second user to be included in the collection of thesecond user.
 15. A method according to claim 1, further comprising: on auser-entered command, causing an information object to be shared withanother user when the information object and the other user have beengraphically selected.
 16. A method according to claim 1, furthercomprising: on a user-entered command, causing an information object tobe shared with another user via an instant message sent through anintegrated instant messaging system as a result of graphical selectionby a first user.
 17. A method according to claim 1, further comprisingcausing shared information objects to be synchronized with one another.18. A method according to claim 1, further comprising: serving, to aclient computing device of a first user, a first view of a first set ofinformation objects that constitute a first collection of the firstuser; also serving, to the client computing device of the first user, asecond view of a second set of information objects, outside of the firstcollection, wherein any given member of the second set of informationobjects is both included in a collection of another user and the otheruser has been selected by the first user; and wherein each of theinformation objects in the second view can, on a user-entered command,be caused to be copied to the first view.
 19. A method according toclaim 18, wherein each of the information objects in the second view isdisplayed in an order determined by a criterion selected from the groupconsisting of the information object's creation time, its access time,and combinations thereof.
 20. A method according to claim 1, furthercomprising: serving, to a client computing device of a first user, afirst view of a first set of information objects that constitute a firstcollection of the first user; also serving, to the client computingdevice of the first user, a second view of a second set of informationobjects, outside of the first collection, that are related to one ormore information objects in the first collection as a result of being inone or more collections, of other users, that also include at least oneof the information objects in the first collection; wherein each of theinformation objects in the second view can, on a user-entered command,be caused to be copied to the first view.
 21. A method according toclaim 1, further comprising: serving, to a client computing device of afirst user, a view of a first set of information objects that constitutea collection of the first user; serving, to a client computing device ofa second user, a view of a first set of information objects thatconstitute a collection of the second user; storing the informationobjects in a database, each of the information objects being stored inassociation with data pertinent thereto including any users thereof,spatial location thereof in the workspace view, content and metadatathereof, such metadata including comments and votes, times of storage,viewing and copying thereof, relationship thereof to any otherinformation objects; and processing information object data in thedatabase to make a recommendation to the first user, wherein therecommendation is based on at least one of the criteria in the groupconsisting of: number of direct and indirect relations of informationobjects in the collection of the first user with another informationobject in the database; addition of a first pair of information objectsto a collection of another user in short interval of time, of which oneof the first pair of information objects is already in the collection ofthe first user; presence of a second pair of information objects in thecollection of the other user in close spatial proximity to one another,of which one of the second pair of information objects is already in thecollection of the first user; presence of a given information object ina row or column of information objects in the collection of the otheruser, wherein one of the information objects in the row or column isalready in the collection of the first user; popularity of aninformation object in the database, based on a popularity measureselected from the group consisting of number of users, number of views,number of copies made, number of comments made, number of votes, andcombinations thereof; presence of an information object from a seconduser with whom the first user previously exchanged information objects,comments or votes; and combinations thereof.
 22. A method according toclaim 21, wherein the processing to make the recommendation includesprocessing to recommend an information object that is not in thecollection of the first user.
 23. A method according to claim 21,wherein the processing to make the recommendation includes processing torecommend another user who created an information object that isselected based on at least one of the criteria.
 24. Acomputer-implemented method of interacting with a plurality of dataitems retrieved from a plurality of dynamic information sources, inwhich at least one computer initiates execution of software instructionsto perform computer processes, the computer processes comprising:receiving a user selection of dynamic information sources; automaticallyobtaining additions and modifications to the information sources andautomatically converting the additions and modifications into dataitems; automatically configuring each of the data items into a distinctinformation object by extracting, from each data item, extracted dataincluding a heading, a source, graphical and textual material, and ahyperlink; and using the extracted data to cause display of arepresentation of each of the information objects in a uniform format,wherein the format includes a card, and, within the card, an icon areafor graphical and textual material, and a heading; wherein theinformation objects are automatically organized for display in aplurality of rows, each row having a heading; wherein each row isautomatically collected and corresponds to a distinct set of at leastone of the dynamic information sources and the data items therein arearranged chronologically and the information object provides graphicalaccess to content via the hyperlink.
 25. A computer-implemented methodaccording to claim 24, wherein at least one of the dynamic informationsources includes an item selected from the group consisting of newsfeeds, alerts, announcements, e-mails, instant messages and sensor data.26. A method according to claim 24, wherein any given row isconfigurable to receive at least one RSS URL that has been depositedtherein manually by the user using a graphical user interface, so as tocause display in the given row of a sequence of information objectsextracted from a corresponding data stream associated with the at leastone RSS URL.
 27. A method according to claim 24, wherein the informationobjects in any given row are filtered to match a user-specified set ofkeywords for the given row.
 28. A method according to claim 24, whereinany given row is configurable to receive an information object depositedtherein manually by the user using a graphical user interface, andwherein the information object deposited therein is automatically causedto be placed in a left-most position.
 29. A method according to claim24, wherein at least one of the information sources provides real-timesearch results.
 30. A computer-implemented method of interacting with atleast one data item, in which at least one computer initiates executionof software instructions to perform computer processes, the computerprocesses comprising: configuring each of the data items into a distinctinformation object by extracting, from each data item, extracted dataincluding a heading, a source, graphical and textual material, and ahyperlink; using the extracted data to make available for display, arepresentation of each of the information objects in a uniform format,wherein the format includes a card, and, within the card, an icon areafor graphical and textual material, the heading, the source, a set ofindicators, and a mechanism giving graphical access to a set offunctions, including a vote function, by which a plurality of usershaving access to the card can provide a vote, such votes beingassociated with the information object and accessible to users who viewthe information object, and one of the indicators displays the totalnumber of votes that have been received from all users; and storing datacorresponding to each of the cards in a database, configured so thateach card in the database, with any associated votes, is accessible andsharable among users.